Heavy rain lashes Odisha, govt alerts collectors

Heavy rain lashed parts of Odisha today inundating several places in Malkangiri, Kaldhamal and Gajapati districts.

The state government has put collectors on high alert on the possibility of floods.

"IMD (India Meteorological Department) sources indicate that under the influence of a low pressure area formed over the north-west Bay of Bengal and its neighbourhood and associated cyclonic circulation, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in different districts with extremely heavy rainfall in some places during the period from July 20 to 22," the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi wrote to the district collectors.

Sethi said he had directed all the district administrations to remain prepared to meet any flood/ waterlogging situation in the district.

He also directed the collectors to ensure round-the-clock functioning of the district Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) and instruct field functionaries to remain present at their respective headquarters and respond to emergency situations.

Meanwhile, SRC office sources said Malkangiri district received highest rainfall of 75.4 mm followed by 30 mm in Gajapati, 27.7 mm in Deogarh and 27.5 mm in Kandhamal during the last 24 hours leading to running of rain water on roads and bridges.

A report from Malkangiri district said that an old bridge over river Poteru was washed away due to heavy rainfall leading to disruption of road communication with the district headquarters town.

Several places in Kandahmal, Gajapati and Kalahandi district also experienced deluge as heavy rain lashed the area since morning.

Keeping in view the intensity of rainfall, Health secretary P K Meherda has asked all the district collectors and chief district medical officers (CDMO) to ensure that pregnant women showing signs of labour in remote areas be brought to the nearest and safe maternity waiting homes.

Meherda also asked the district authorities to stock bleaching powder, antibiotics, halogen tablets and other emergency supplies in health facilities lying in the flood vulnerable areas.

The IMD, in another special bulletin, said that the well marked low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal adjoining Odisha and West Bengal coast, is likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 48 hours.

The IMD had forecast heavy rainfall in 14 districts and very heavy rainfall in two districts of Odisha from Friday in view of the low pressure. The rainfall will ncrease further from Saturday and continue till Sunday, it said.

The IMD has forecast heavy rain in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Kandhamal on Friday, Kandhamal, Boudh, Sonepur and Kalahandi districts on Saturday and Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj the following day.

The IMD has also issued warning to the fishermen not to venture into the sea due to the inclement weather. Besides, it has also asked the fishermen, who have gone for deep sea fishing, to return to the coast by today.